Investment boost for Reset’s card scheme

Mr Townsend, the former chairman of former AIM-listed Medical House, which was sold in 2009, told the Yorkshire Post last November that he was looking for investment opportunities after making in excess of £5.6m from the sale of the company.

On the same day, we reported that Sheffield-based Reset Training, which has created an electronic method of logging and checking the skills and qualifications of contract personnel, had secured Leeds Bradford International Airport as a new customer.

Mr Townsend said: “As a result of the two articles appearing on the same day, I was contacted by Gary Duce, the managing director of Reset, and asked whether I would like to invest in the certification scheme. Having carried out the usual due diligence, and having seen what had been achieved so far, I was only too happy to say yes.”

Mr Townsend, together with two other private investors, has ploughed more than £200,000 into Reset and is ready to invest more as the company expands across the UK.

The company currently employs 15 staff but it hopes to create 30-50 jobs over the next two years.

Mr Duce said: “Ian’s investment has meant that Reset can expand and create more new jobs as it increases its client base. We are very confident that our ground-breaking Reset Certification Scheme (RSC) will prove extremely popular as it is both cost and time efficient and promotes sound health and safety practice. Now we have the means to promote the card across the UK.”

He added: “Ian brings with him a wealth of experience, business acumen and a proven track record. Although we value Ian’s financial investment, the fact he has invested his time with us and become a director of the company will be invaluable as we go forward.”

The scheme means that Reset’s customers, such as airports, hospitals, supermarkets and shopping centres, can find out instantly whether individuals have the skills and qualifications to do their job.

Until now, laborious checks have to be carried out on paperwork provided by organisations in order to comply with health and safety law and HSE guidelines.

Reset has devised a system which offers a secure and streamlined checking process which can reduce verification times by over 90 per cent.

Mr Townsend added: “I do not invest my money lightly, so Reset had to tick all the boxes. And it did. Like all the best ideas, the RCS card is very simple and fulfils a need.

“It saves time and money and helps ensure a safe working environment. It crucially maintains an electronic record of competency checks for seven years.

“As its popularity spreads, I foresee a time when company directors, duty holders and health and safety managers will feel they cannot do without it.”

Under RCS, companies register and subscribe each of their employees. Self-employed individuals can register themselves.

Once the individual’s qualification certificates and documents have completed a verification process they are then scanned and uploaded, together with a photograph, on to the RCS database. An RCS card that allows access to all of this information is then issued.

Each cardholder has their own profile which can only be accessed by the verifier when they present their individual card details. Such details can be given over the phone so they can be verified before the worker even arrives on site. Individual checks can also be done remotely through a Smartphone application when the verifier is away from a computer, such as on site.

Mr Duce said: “Organisations and main contractors have a duty in law to verify the competence of individuals who work on their sites.

“Their responsibilities include checking everything from trade skills and competencies to health and safety accreditations.”

For example, just because somebody is a qualified tradesman, it doesn’t mean they can erect scaffolding safely, administer first aid or are aware of the dangers of asbestos.

He added. “As organisations become more aware of their legal duties, they are constantly asking for proof of competence before allowing work to start on site.

“This usually means that individuals have to present them with cards, certificates and diplomas. Many organisations requesting this information also request to see the originals and with such demands personal certificates are at risk, being prone to loss or damage.”

Neil Rennison, the project manager at Leeds Bradford International Airport, said “The airport can have hundreds of service providers on site every week. Ensuring they are qualified and competent to do their job presented a real challenge.

“When we saw the time savings the RCS could deliver it took us very little time to decide to join the scheme”.